ABOUT THE PRESIDENT

“My aim is to transform Society through education by setting up academic institutions in dynamic equilibrium with its social, ecological and economic environment striving continuously for excellence in education, research and technological service to the nation.”

The most eminent Educationist and philanthropic entrepreneur of Mangalore, Shri CA. A. Raghavendra Rao is the Founder, Chairman and the chief patron of A. Shama Rao Foundation. The Foundation was specifically established to impart quality and sustainable education to all. This foundation was born out of the belief of Shri A. Shama Rao, that education is the engine to transform society. The “Srinivas Group of Colleges” is one such venture that is sponsored by A. Shama Rao Foundation.

Shri A. Raghavendra Rao was born on 16th October, 1937, to Late Shama Rao, and late Shrimathi. A. Indiramma at Benagal, Pejamangore Village, Udupi. He completed his elementary education in SVS Elementary School, Innanje and then joined SVH High School. He pursued his graduation in Commerce at the M.G.M. College in Udupi and came to Mangalore to pursue his higher education in Chartered Accountancy.

Married to Vijayalaxmi in the year 1964, he is blessed with two children – Padmini and Srinivas. Padmini is married to Dr. Uday Kumar and Srinivas is married to Mitra. Shri A. Raghavendra Rao is presently a proud grandfather to four grandchildren.

Reaching the present position he holds has not been easy and has involved a lot of hard work, commitment and sacrifice. He is the only CA from the region to be elected on Council since inception in 1949 and set up his independent practice as Chartered Accountant at Felix Pai Bazaar, Mangalore in 1965.

He became the elected Secretary of the Canara Chamber of Commerce for the year 1983 – 84. He is the Senior Partner of M/S. Raghavendra Chartered Accountants, Mangalore having 7 branches in other cities.

During his service, Shri. A. Raghavendra Rao has been privileged to meet several top leaders of the country as well as top officials and discuss with them some of the problems about the development of the region. In the year 1988, he had set up a new trust “A. Shama Rao Foundation” and he set up his first Professional Degree College in Hotel Management,”Srinivas College of Hotel Management” in August 1988. The strength of the college was only seven students in the inaugural year and it was affiliated under the B.H.M degree discipline by the Mangalore University. The second year, the strength was 11 and the number of students went on increasing every year and now, it has 100 students every year. In 1993, he set up the Srinivas College of Physiotherapy with only seven students. Today, it is affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences and well known for its quality teaching with Post graduate teachers and a research centre. After that, he went on setting up new degree colleges in various fields of education.

He started his career with one staff in his office and now, 75 employees work under his CA firm. In 1979, he contested the South India Regional Council of Institute of Charted Accountant in Chennai and won the election during his four years of time. In the council, he served as a Chairman of the India regional Charted Accountant Students Association at Chennai and also as Secretary of S.I. R.C for sometime. During his tenure, he was the taxation committee Chairman of the SIRC and conducted regional taxation seminars at Mangalore. During the year 1980, he planned and set up a 3 star Vegetarian hotel in Mangalore, “Hotel Srinivas”. In 1984, the Classification Committee of the Tourism Ministry of India inspected the hotel and classified it as a 3 Star Hotel. It is the first pure vegetarian hotel to be classified as a 3 Star pure vegetarian hotel in Karnataka.

26.08.2006 – ‘Chitrabharathi’ Award for the contribution in the field of education from Chitrabharathi Tulu Chitraranga.

01.01.2009 – Achiever’s New Year Award 2009, for distinguished service to Society in the field of Education, Commerce & Industry by Academy of General Education, Manipal, along with Rotary Club of Udupi – Manipal and Syndicate Bank, Manipal.

03.01.2009 – “SIRC Diamond Jubilee Award” for senior Chartered

Membership –

Member & Founder President of Kala Sangama, a Cultural body

Life Member of Mangalore Productivity Council and Mangalore Management Association.

Past member of Rotary Club of Mangalore

Past member of the Senate of Mangalore University, 1985- 88 and 1995 – 1998

He says. “Work hard and build up a constructive thinking for future generations. People should be good to one another. We have to keep everyone happy and there should be no room for jealousy among our brethren. We have to try to lift up someone and not pull them down. We have to think of others prosperity and not disparity.”

In keeping with this vision, Shri Raghavendra Rao’s immediate future plans are to start a Medical and Dental College and higher studies Institutions for Fine arts and Sanskrit.